An attractive Olympic gold-medalist says she had a close personal relationship with Gov. Paterson earlier this year - during which time she recorded a series of secret telephone conversations with him.

Track-and-field athlete Diane Dixon, of Brooklyn, also told The Post that she had received a private message yesterday morning from Paterson, asking if she was speaking with the media.

Dixon, 43, said Paterson, 53, was "mostly responsible" for getting her a badly needed job earlier this month with the city Department of Education in Crown Heights' District 17.

The job pays in the range of $48,000 to $65,000 a year, records show.

"I'm a single mom with a child. I need this job," said Dixon, who grew up on Carroll Street in Crown Heights and won medals in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1984 games in Los Angeles and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Just one day after taking office, Gov. Paterson yesterday admitted to cheating on his wife with "a number of women," including one who currently works in his new office....Yesterday, he confessed to cheating with several women, including one whom sources identified as Lila Kirton, who followed Spitzer from the Attorney General's Office to the governor's New York City office as the $150,000-a-year director of community affairs.

Paterson's campaign wrote Kirton a check for $500 for "professional services" in 2002, records show.

A spokesman described it as "reimbursement for attendance at an event on behalf of the campaign," adding officials for the Paterson campaign are "currently reviewing all transactions."

The "event" was apparently in Paterson's pants.

Without mentioning Kirton - who could not be reached for comment - Paterson said the relationship had lasted for several years and that he would "accommodate her wishes" in terms of what she wants to do about her employment.

She'll probably ask for a raise. I guess we know what constitutes the "service" part of civil service in New York.

It looks like ole Dave has some 'splaining to do. I'm just waiting for the Dixon tapes to show up on YouTube - Bwahahahahaha.